Julie Hatcher
Volunteering
Is volunteering right for me?
Volunteers come to us for all sorts of reasons: to do their bit, to get healthy, to stay healthy, for the social element, for fun, for the challenge, to learn new skills, to practice old skills, to prepare for the workplace, to help wildlife, to get out into the fresh air, to learn about wildlife, to carry on using skills during retirement - and occasionally it’s just to give it a go. We like to think that we have the ideal opportunity for everyone who comes to us – so why not put us to the test?
© Jon Hawkins Photography
Volunteering Opportunities
To register as a volunteer, explore current opportunities, and take the next step to get involved, click the link below to visit our Volunteering Management System.
There’s a wide range of roles available, so it’s simply a case of finding the opportunities that are right for you.
Winter conservation work on Brownsea Island (https://youtu.be/WtB4HWy8Et8)
Video production: Diarmuid Mitchell
Getting stuck in with our work parties
Join a conservation work party and help to manage our nature reserves across the county.
- Mainly winter activities
- A few sites host volunteer work parties throughout the year.
- All sessions are led by experienced volunteers or Reserve Wardens
- All tools provided for you.
Undertake active management tasks such as:
- Path creation
- Scrub clearance
- Hedgelaying
- Path clearance
- Small pine removal.
The emphasis is for everyone to enjoy their time, in a safe environment, whilst carrying out work that will directly enhance the conservation aspects of the site.
- Most work parties run from 10am until 3pm.
- Details of each event can be found on our Volunteering Portal. Click on the orange button at the top of this page to register.
Working in the offices and visitor centres
Volunteering with Dorset Wildlife Trust needn't involve being outside, doing something manual or getting very muddy and wet!
There is a huge range of other tasks that may appeal to you indoors at our Headquarters near Dorchester, or any of our Visitor Centres
- Organising events
- Clerical support
- Staffing reception
- Data input
- Carrying out research
- Helping pack DWT newsletters into envelopes
There are also regular sessions at our Brooklands Farm HQ carrying out such tasks as the stuffing of newsletters, raffles and other bulk mailings into envelopes ready for delivery.
Contact: If you are able to volunteer for a regular session of perhaps one day a week, you may like to assist one of our teams with a specific project.
Carrying out wildlife surveys
Recording and monitoring of wildlife is an important part of our work across Dorset, from our Nature Reserves and Dorset's Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) to the Living Landscape & Living Seas projects and your local community patch!
There are a number of ways you can be involved, depending on your interests, how much time you have, and how experienced you are at identifying wildlife.
If you have existing wildlife identification and survey skills, would like to contribute to the nature reserves recording and monitoring programme or are a regular recorder at any of our sites get in touch. There are also occasional opportunities to be trained for specific surveys which are advertised through the volunteer e-mail newsletter.
Read our volunteers' blogs
Volunteering at Lorton Meadows by Sam Dallimore
Wessex Water Brownsea Island workday
Wild Workdays
Our corporate volunteering days provide a fantastic opportunity to get out in nature and to help make our reserves the best possible homes for wildlife.
Get in touch
We really do value your feedback on our volunteering programme so please feel free to get in touch at volunteering@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk,